Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. Unveils Useful Information Site

Those interested in learning more about Pope Benedict XVI's April 15-17 visit to Washington, D.C. can now find a great deal of useful information at www.dcpapalvisit.org The site is designed to provide information for the public and media, including:

- The best places for the public to see the pope as he travels through Washington in the popemobile.

- A news/media section with backgrounders on the Archdiocese, the visit, Pope Benedict and the papacy, press releases, and more.

- An itinerary of the pope's visit.

- Information on transportation and parking for ticket holders to the April 17 Mass at Nationals Park.

- FAQ about the papal visit and Mass, such as accommodations for persons with special needs and where to purchase merchandise.

How do you Blog when the Power is Out?

I hadn't thought of that question until about 10:30 a.m. this morning when a branch, laden down with heavy snow, fell on a power line outside our home, shutting my computer off while I was in mid-sentence on a blog post.

12 inches of snow... in mid-April! Only in Minnesota! We're in the midst of a freak snow-storm that started yesterday afternoon. By this morning there was so much snow, I was unable to get out of the driveway to read at morning Mass. The photo shows the extent of the snow, after I plowed the driveway.

Then, the power went out. I quickly made plans to drive into town for Internet access at Panera, but by the time I loaded everything up into the car and headed down the driveway, the power crew had finished working on the line. Now that's fast service.

The lesson in all of this morning's happenings - no morning Mass, snow, power outage, and credential denial - expect the unexpected. That's what I'm expecting as I get ready for the Pope's journey to the U.S.

D.C. Metro Pulls Pope Ad after Catholics Complain

In one of the most odd stories I've seen on the Pope's visit, comes this controversy over an ad created by D.C.'s Metro featuring a Pope bobblehead doll using the "Mass Pass" to commute to Nationals Park. Here's the ad:

Thomas Peters was one of the first to blog on the ad. By the time I got around to viewing it at YouTube it had already been taken off the site. A restored link has now been created. Here's a story from ABC 7 on the ad, which also features some video footage from the ad.

Archdiocesan officials and some area Catholics found the ad offensive, and inaccurate. The Pope bobblehead is wearing the zucchetto that would be worn by a cardinal. The Pope's would be white. He's also wearing a red cope with white, which the Pope wouldn't wear.

I'd be curious what readers think: cute or offensive, both or neither?

Tickets in the Diocese of Rockville Centre

Newsday has reported that the Diocese of Rockville Centre will be receiving 1,000 tickets for the Mass at Yankee Stadium, and that the Diocese received 13,000 requests for those tickets, which will be distributed by a lottery system.

The article highlights the level of security for the Mass. In addition to going through security pre-screening being handled by federal authorities, the article says that Mass-goers will have to go through screening before they board buses for the Mass.

DC Catholic Has the "Mass Pass"

DC Catholic has posted the first look at the "Mass Pass" - the commemorative pass that will allow those in D.C. to ride unlimited public transportation all day for $9.

D.C. Catholic Has the Goods on the Metro Pocket Guide for the Papal Visit

D.C. Catholic has an exclusive look at the Metro Pocket Guide - "Mass Pass" - that's being made available for the Pope's D.C. visit. Among the details that D.C. Catholic provides, are these:

• The commemorative Mass Passes will cost $9 a piece.
• They will provide unlimited rides on Metro rail all day on April 17.
• Mass Passes can be purchased online until April 4 at Metro’s online store (sales have not yet begun).
• Bulk orders of more than 22 passes per credit cards must be made over the phone.

D.C. Catholic extracted the information from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

According to the WMATA, "Metro is the best way to get to the ballpark because of the convenience of the Navy Yard Metrorail station, only one block from the new ballpark. The station has undergone a year-long renovation which expanded the station and will reopen the weekend of March 29. The new entrance will accommodate up to 15,000 people per hour, compared with 5,000 before the renovation."

Getting to the Mass on Time

NBC 4 reports that Washington's Metro plans to add one additional car - from 19 to 20 - to facilitate transportation to Nationals Park during the Pope's visit to Washington, D.C. those attending the Mass will be able to take the Green Line to the Navy Yard Metrorail Station, which is near the new stadium.

"It may not seem like a lot, but it does make a big difference to have at least one extra train out here,"  Metro spokesman Steven Taubenkibel told NBC 4. "Six cars that we can move more people in the system, and that's critical for us."

Seattle's Examiner.com has an AP story with this additional information: "The transit agency says it expects to carry at least 25,000 people early that morning to hear Pope Benedict XVI at the 10 a.m. event. Trains are expected to be busiest from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. Patrons attending the mass are scheduled to arrive by 9:15 a.m.

Metro officials say they will have extra personnel on hand to help guide riders at the Navy Yard Metrorail station. The newly expanded west entrance of the station will be used as an exit only before the mass and for entry only after the mass."

In speaking to Taubenkibel about a week ago for a story in the Register, he told me that they are already at maximum capacity for rush hour. He did say that the Metro board approved the creation of  special one-day pass that commuters will be able to use the day of the Pope's Mass.